Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-01-29

marx, out the snowfiakes fell around him
ike heecy, shifting curtain. He strobe for
ward once more, this time slowly-feeling
his way. He WAS beginning TO be confused.
Again he paused. This time he realized that
he had lost his bearings and he also realized
the dangers which this Circumstance entailed.
lie had but one recourse at that moment
He would descend the first gulch and follow
II To its outlet As he hurried forward,
houndering through the deepening uflils ne
found that he was trayersng broad plateau.
While speculating what chat this could pe
he plunged hesdiong into abrush fence. He
was saved, AS he arose he heard voices.
Guided by this welcome sound he soon
reached a barn. ShelterinR himself under
the lee OF the barn, he waited until the men
retired and then crept into the building. sew.
eral horses occupied stalls In the stable and
farming implements gnd harness were scat
tered about The rohber climbed INTO the
loft and burytng himself IN the hay,'was soon
sleeping soundly.
wnen he awoke II was night, and the stars
were shining clear and bright in the cloud
less sky, The snow lay thick in every direc.
ton, and tue only sound that broke the al
lepce was the dripping Of water from the
caves OF the barn. lie looked out aud saw
e horse short distance from his place of
conceslment No one was stirring and no
lights werevisihle. Descending to the lower
floor OF the barn, the highwsyman lighted
lantern and began to search for something
among the implements scattered about In
a few moments he found u saddle, which he
carried to the stalls, and, speaking low to one
of the horses placed II on the snimals
back. Having secured the saddle, he took
down q bridle and ad listed ii In the horses
mouth. Then he listened, The silence re-
assured him. He opened the door and led
the horse out into the starlight Choosing
path that led away from the house, he was
making good progress toward gate when
his plans were disturbed by the sudden,
fierce outcry Of dogs They came At him
from every direction, yelping, barking, bay
ing. There was not an instant to he lost
To hesitate meant an unequal struggle with
the dogs and ultimate capture by the inmates
of the house, Lsaping 20 the saddle, the des.
perste man urged his horse At the fence The
animal was game, and answered the hoarse
cry Of its rider by rising At the fence and
clearing Ii at q single bound. lie thought he
heard an answering shout from the farm
house, but he was not certain, but he was
not certain, and he had no desire to solve
this DOUBT In two hours, by hard riding,
he had left danger miles behind, and reiued
his horse into q rapid walk.
The foothills OF the Sierra are thickly
wooded with white, black aud live oak, thus
relieving the monotony of an otherwise bar
ren landscape. Even in the depth Of winter
these oaks retain their foliage, and one never
| sees in California the gnsrled branches and
| leafiess boushs so conspicuously wintry in
| their nakedness in less favored climes.
| Standing beneath one OF these oaks, on the
| day following his escape from the noun IA n
| proach OF party OF norsemeu. The horse he
| had stolen stood beside him covered with mud
| from neck 10 fetlock k-foundered. The horse
| men In the distance rode furiously and they
| were heading directly for the tree beneath
| which the fugitive stood. There was a smile
| upon his lips, and he seemed in An unusually y
cheerful mood.
| "Those fellows mean business" he nut
| tered. "They wouldn't have followed me 50
| close ifthey didn't Looks as II the game
was up on this side OF the bosrd-bome Il
deal and handful of small cards ! guess
| I'll have to peg ont" The realism OF the
sinile amused the stage, e,robber, and his eyes
| twinkled humorously. when ! started or
this risky enterprise 1 tried to look shest
| into the future day or two. ] wondered
| where I'd be about this time. / took my
chances on TWO losing csrds--a jail and
rope-aud reckon | won the rope. Th'
gang don't look like a crowd OF missionaries
chasing me 10 save my immortal soul. 1t ain
the sheriff, because the sheriff don't hun
covetes with a bras baud. think II is thl
horse that has settled my business. Wei
what of itT played it for all IL was worth ,bu
two little pair don't beat a King full, and
don'tthink my bluff is going to work"
| BY this time the pursuers we're thunderinI
| up the slope, their horses reeking with swea
and painting with their exertion. There wert
ten men in the crowd, and their stern
bearded faces wore an expression anything
but reassuring TO the man who so calmly
awaited them. They circled the tree with
out word, and hastily secured their animal
to tne branches One OF them, a tall, bronzed
muscular young man, uncoiled a lariat from
the horn Of his saddle and flung il detiantly
and with OmiuiOus significance st the feet o
the roboer, The leader OF the horsemen theI
approached.
| "Good mornin, stranger" he remark ell
in that easy familiar tone, peculiar to tn,
mountsineer OF California, with whom Tia,
| time oil day ls always morning until night.
| "hOod morning" the hlghwsyman an
swered, extending his hand with u cordially
that was ironicai in its effusiyeness Tn,
leader grasped the prohered hand hs!
| mechanically, ms face Indicating sur
prise at ~ co1lness OF the man they in
tended ~ hang.
- "Belong in these parts|' no ssked.
| mo; can't say l'm exactly a Tesidenter oI
| hisquartor-seCtiOn Just now -
"May be you're thinkn O. OF pre-smptin
a claim ?"
you've struck it, pard. I've been run
ming pretty free OF late, and I've about con
cluded t. settle down, Quist-likB and easy
The man looked steadily in the eyes OF mi
eNecutiOneT, his cheek unblanched and hi
voice as calm and passlonless as if the idea n
| painful death at tue hands of these deter
| mined men was the last thought on his mind
The leader ofthe horsemen whispered softl y
| Then he said
"Been here long ?"
| "Halt an hour"
Haven't seen anything at claybani
| mare, branded y, c. on the ielt Hank, hayr
| your"
| "Pacer?'
"Thars her gait"
| "White spot IN her forehead 90
| "iou know her, stranger"
| 81 guess I've seen the mare. Belong {,
| you?"
~ paid sl60 fur tho brute, an haven
| sold her yet"
Had an otter ~
"Waut to soil Pu
"Well, can't say / do-not Just now, any
now. Why? You wasn't thinkin' o. buyin
| the mare, was ye"'
'On, / didn't know but we might make
some sort OF trade. I've been travelling
| pretty lively the past two dsya, and this mare
| OF mine Is petered."
too, and the leader approached the animal
pattlng her gently on the neck.
'Ihats her color, paTd," said the other,
''and she's dandy. l wouldn't take S2OC
for her It she was in condition"
"Whte spot in her foI ehead too. Stranger
OF ehis wsrn't your mare, I'd swear she was
mine" He walked slowly around the horse,
examining the animal In detail and com.
menting upon her various points OF resem-
blance 10 his own. "Ees, sir this yer mare
O yours, stranger, is the dead image OF one
| lost yesterday mornin. l shouldn't be
surprised OF she was my mares twin sis
ter"
"You say you've lost your msre?"
"Sartiu."
Broke out O. the corral, s'pos."
with man on her back"
"Ahn
"You say you've seen the crlttor, strsn.
ger2"
"Perhsps"
nMay be yOu nOticel lhs party a ritinI